Blockbuster film location sites have become ‘must see’ destinations for avid adventurers keen to explore in 2023. To accommodate the growing trend of set-jetting, SevenTravel, the positive-impact, luxury travel company, has compiled its own unique adventure trips for movie lovers to follow in the footsteps of Indiana Jones.
To celebrate the release of the fifth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise on June 30th 2023, SevenTravel has crafted bespoke itineraries spanning movie locations of each of the five iconic films. Movie buffs can travel in style, retracing the footsteps of the world’s most iconic adventurer and we can’t think of a more exciting holiday experience.
Indiana Jones Dial of Destiny | Swashbuckle across Sicily
While plot details surrounding Indiana Jones and the “Dial of Destiny” have been limited, Harrison Ford and his team have used Sicily as a backdrop to parts of the film. A key filming destination is Cefalù, known for its alluring web of medieval streets and the intricately decorated Byzantine mosaics lying within the ancient Norman cathedral. One of the most exciting stop offs on this unique trip, Cefalù is one of Sicily’s hidden gems and is renowned for the turquoise waters of its beaches and archaeological exhibits in the famous Mandralisca Museum.
The adventure starts off in the picturesque coastal town of Syracuse, famous for its eye-catching architecture, before moving onto the renowned Valley of the Temples, the UNESCO World Heritage site, which displays some of the finest examples of Doric temples in the world.
Other highlights of this inimitable trip include sampling traditional Italian dishes with a magnificent view over the Temple of Concordia, a 5th century BC masterpiece of Doric architecture and exploring the magnificent cathedrals of Monreale and Palermo with an expert guide. These two cathedrals are mesmerising jewels in the crown of Sicilian attractions with their intricate mosaics and breathtaking architecture.
The Culture & Classics of Sicily trip from SevenTravel is priced from £4,995 for 11 days (excluding flights).
Raiders of the Lost Art | Unravel mysteries in Egypt
In the iconic 80’s film “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” all eyes are on Egypt, where the city of Tanis is buried by an ancient sandstorm and rediscovered by Nazis searching for the Ark of the Covenant. Today, adventurous travellers still hold a love affair with the destination – a country where ancient and modern combine, and where everyone secretly dreams of waking up as Indiana Jones. Well most people, with a sense of fun….
This glorious adventure begins in Cairo where guests can spend their days sampling the local cuisine, wandering the medieval Citadel and the show-stopping Ottoman-style Alabaster Mosque, before taking in the beguiling scenery. And we don’t use the word beguiling seriously.
From here, visitors will travel to Aswan to board the Amirat Dahabiya cruise and experience an unforgettable seven-night deluxe boat journey across the Nile, travelling back in time to a more gracious era of travel full of pleasing pomp and wonder.
Travellers can visit to awaken their spiritual senses at the Temple of Abydos, before meandering to the Old Egyptian Museum to uncover the hieroglyphic carvings of some intriguing temples. We also love the option of watching the amber sunset over the pyramids whilst toasting to another incredible day at the bar at luxurious Marriott Menahouse.
The Exploring the Nile trip from SevenTravel is priced from £3,895 for 12 days (excluding flights).
Temple of Doom | Crusade in North India
Next up is 1984’s “Temple of Doom”, where Indiana Jones searches for a sacred Sankara stone at the bequest of locals from a northern Indian village, leading him to get embroiled in a battle against the Thuggee cult that practices in the temple hidden beneath Pankot Palace. While dark arts don’t feature on this alluring itinerary, this trip really offers the most intoxicating, un-spoilt and strikingly beautiful parts of Northern India, not to mention breathtaking vistas from this blockbuster movie.
The twelve-day tailor-made journey will take guests off the beaten path to thrill and enlighten in the various religions of India, coupled with echoes of the Raj with a visit to the colonial town of Shimla.
No visit to India is complete without a visit to Delhi and SevenTravel includes three nights to allow ample time to explore this magnificent city. A rickshaw tour will give guests a local’s glimpse of its historic havelis, temples, palaces, shrines and atmospheric bazaars, before concluding at Raj Ghat.
The trip also includes a visit to the ‘Holy Pool of Nectar’, Amritsar – the spiritual capital of Sikhs and an up-close visit to the memorial of the great Mahatma Gandhi. This is a delightful precursor for an incredibly authentic tour the following day that takes in where Gandhi once lived, a museum dedicated to him and meetings with locals who will tell you more about his life.
You will also experience a enchanting journey to the charming cobbled village of Pragpur in the picturesque Kangra Valley – get those cameras ready.
The Mystical Northern India trip from SevenTravel is priced from £2,595 for 15 days (excluding flights).
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | See temples and kingdoms in Peru
Vine-wrapped Latin American ruins are hard to resist, even for filmmakers, as the Peruvian Amazon plays a large part in Indiana Jones and the “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”. Fans will no doubt remember the sequel’s most memorable moment set here: Indiana running away from a giant stone ball in a booby-trapped temple. Fit for a modern Inca King, this itinerary offers beautiful hotels, spectacular scenery, jungle ruins… and the chance to uncover the Sacred Valley treasures that Indiana Jones would be proud of.
Prepare to explore bohemian neighbourhoods, colonial architecture and eclectic cuisine of Peru’s capital, Lima before wandering to the UNESCO-listed Old Town where the gastronomy scene is something to write home about,
A visit to Arequipa follows for its whitewashed baroque architecture and spluttering volcanoes, then on to the Belmond Andean Explorer train to witness dawn break over Lake Titicaca. The trip also includes a four-night cruise that journeys majestically along the Amazon River, providing seemingly limitless opportunities to spot wildlife like iguanas, macaws, sloths and monkeys.
Animal lovers will also adore the chance to visit the Amazon Rescue Center in Lima where injured manatees and dolphins are nursed and rehabilitated back to full strength.
The Sacred Incas and wild Amazon of Peru trip from SevenTravel is priced from £8,795pp for 18days (excluding flights).
We asked Angelee Rathor, Founder of SevenTravel, to reveal her thoughts on this highly desirable range of travel experiences: “There is no more iconic an adventurer than Indiana Jones. As we eagerly anticipate the launch of the latest and final installment, we wanted to tap into the trend of set-jetting and offer our clients some trips with a difference. Visitors can really immerse themselves in the locations. All our itineraries are created for the modern traveller in mind, set to deliver maximum wow factor with minimal impact on the environment.”
SevenTravel offers access to 100 percent custom, high-end experiences that are sure to secure bragging rights. The brand’s expert team of travel designers works closely with each client to create luxurious itineraries, with a personal approach to ensure a unique trip every time.
Each member of the SevenTravel team’s unparalleled knowledge of each destination takes clients beyond the pages of guidebooks to discover the essence of every country. Encouraging clients to linger longer and connect deeper to the location’s surroundings, travellers can authentically immerse themselves and get under the skin of that place – taking treasured memories and a fresh perspective home.
The team take care of all the details, from planning to paperwork, to ensure clients spend less time trawling the internet and more time experiencing their holiday. ABTA and ATOL accredited, SevenTravel also offers round the clock support and care, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
At a time when “done it all” travellers are seeking more unique experiences with more premium levels of assistance, SevenTravel truly is a breath of fresh jet setting air.
